Closure cap or stopper for containers



May 21, 1946. A. C..VIVIAN CLOSURE CAP OR STOPPER FOR CONTAINERS Fil ed Aug. 17, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 EN TOR. W

M ATTORNEY May 21, 1946. A. c. VIVIAN CLOSURE CAP OR STOPPER FOB COI ITAINERS Filed Aug. 17, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 21, 1946. A. c. VIVIAN CLOSURE CAP OR STbPPER FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 17, 1945 5 Sheets-Shet 4 1 VENTOR.

A. TORNEY v on partial rotation of the spindle.

reamed May 21, 1946 CLOSURE car OR STOPPER FOR CONTAINERS I Arthur Cecil Vivian, Sunbury-on-Thames,'Eng-- land, assignor to Anglo-Iranian Limited," London, Eng] ration of Great-Britain Oil Company and, a joint-stock corpo- Application August 17, 1943; Serial No. 498,994 In Great Britain August 24, 1942' 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) This invention relates to closure caps or stop- ,pers for containers, more particularly adapted to hold liquids such as motor spirit or oil, and provided for charging and discharging the contents with a spout or neck that normally requires to be closed.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved construction of closure cap mechanism whereby the container may be readily closed or opened; to provide a closure cap mechanism that may be locked in the closed position of the cap; to provide a. closure cap mechanism such that the cap cannotbe lost or mislaid, and generally to provide a'closure cap or stopper mechanism that may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

According to the invention the closure cap or stopper for the spout or neck of the container is provided with a transversely disposed rotatable spindle having a cam or cams thereon and adapted to engage abutments extending parallel or substantially parallel with and in fixed relation to the mouthoi the spout or neck so that when in the closed position the closure cap or stopper may be pressed into engagement with the spout or neck by the action of the cam or cams According to the invention, moreover, the closure cap or stopper may be pivotally carried in spaced bracket members mounted upon the container and at opposite sides of thespout or neckthere are provided the abutments with which may engage the spindle of arotary cam that is supported by-the closure 'cap or stopper in such brackets may be integrally formed so that there are provided two brackets or side plates that are disposed at opposite sides of the closurecap or stopper that extend laterally to the pivotal axis.

The cam is advantageously in the form of a cylinder that is eccentrically mounted with reference to the spindle by which it is carried, but other forms of cam may be provided since it is only essential that the cam shall contact the closure cap or stopper through a limited angular movement. The cam be provided with operating knobs mounted upon the spindle and may further be provided nected by an element lying parallel with the axis of the cam and that may serve as a lever for operating and locking the cam. The cam and the levertogether with the arms may be formed conveniently from a blank of sheet metal. The brackets in which the closure cap or stopper is pivoted may be provided to be mounted independently on the surface of the container in positions adjacent the spout or neck. They may alternatively be formed integrally on a base plate as a single element for mounting upon 5 the container and the base plate may support the spout or neck. The brackets mayiurther be provided to form the abutment members with which may be engaged the spindle of the cam when the cam is moved into the operative position to engage the cap or stopper. For this purpose the brackets may be provided with lugs or projections that extend substantially par allel with or inclined towards the surface of manner as to permit a limited lateral movement of the cam spindle in a pl'anev transverse to the pivotal axis of the closure cap or stopper in order to permit the spindle to be engaged with the abutments, whereupon the spindle may be rotated to cause the cam to contact the exterior surface of the cap or stopper and to press it into close engagement with the spoutor neck of the container.

The closure cap or stopper may be constructed in a manner suited to the spout or neck of the container to which it is applied, 01" the closure cap or stopper may be associated with a spout or neck that is adapted "to be positioned upon the container in the required relation to the charging and discharging orifice. The closure cap or stopper may be provided with spaced pivot members or lugs and with spaced brackets or side plates in' which maybe mounted the spindle 01' the cam withv the required limited freedom for the container upon which the brackets are mounted and such lugs or projections are disposed in such spaced relation that they are presented to the spindle one at each end of the cam. The brackets provided with the abutment lugs or projections may, however, be provided distinct from the brackets in which the pivot pin of the cap or stopper is mounted.

The container is further advantageously provided with means such as a, retaining plate or plates, pins or studs, with which may engage the cam spindle or the cam lever when the cap or stopper is in the open position, thus preventing the accidental return of the cap to the closing position.

The invention further comprises the features construction hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a construction of closure cap or stopper according to the invention taken upon the line l-l of Figure 2.

with arms that are con- Figure 2 is a plan of the closure cap or stopper represented in Figure 1, partly in section upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the closure cap or stopper illustrated in Figure 1 in the open position.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of closure cap or stopper.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the closure cap or stopper represented in Figure 4 illustrated in the closed position.

Figure 6 is a plancorresponding to Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation of a further modification in the construction of the closure cap or stopper according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of the closurecap or stopper represented in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the closure cap or stopper illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, as applied in position upon a can.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the closure capor stopper represented in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of a further modification in construction of the closure cap or stopper illustrated as applied to a 4 gallon drum.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the closure cap or stopper represented in Figure 11.

In carrying the invention into efiect as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, in the provision of a closure cap adapted for use upon thespout or neck of a petrol container, the cap is provided as a sheet metal plate I of rectangular form that is strengthened by transverse pins 2 disposed at the opposite ends of the rectangle and fitted within bends of the sheet metal formed at the said ends. The pins 2 extend beyond the latthe rectangular plate I for reception as rivets in spaced side plates 3 that project upwardly on the exterior side of the cap and that extend laterally at the one end ofthe receral edges of tangular plate I to form pivot lugs 4. The lugs are provided with pivot pin openings 5 that are elongated in a direction normal to the pivotal axis of the cap such as to permit to the cap limited freedom of movement in the direction normal to the plane of the mouth of the spout or neck 6. I

The cap thus provided is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin I in sheet metal bearing brackets 8 that are positioned at opposite sides of and extend laterally of the spout or neck 6 of the coneccentrically upon the, spindle II which extends 'from the cap at each end. The spindle is free within the openings III of the side plates 3.01 the capand the openings are such as to permit the cam spindle to be moved laterally in adirection parallel with the exterior surface of the cap so that the projecting parts of the spindle may be engaged in the slots 9 of the bearing brackets 8. Thus, when the closure cap is in position upon the spout or neck 6 and the cam spindle H is moved into engagement with the slots 9 of the bearing brackets, rotation of the cam spindle serves to move the surface of the cam into engagement with the exterior surface of the cap or with a pressure plate l3 mounted thereon. I

The cam spindle is advantageously provided with operating knobs I4 that are disposed in positions to clear the exterior surfaces of the bearing brackets 8 while the cam spindle further has fixed to itspaced sheet metal arms 15 that lie between the cam and the side plates of the cap and that, at the free ends, are connected by a sheet metal spacing member l6 that may be formed integrally with the arms and which serves as a finger piece for the operation of the cam i2 by lever action, the finger piece and the arms together forming a locking lever for the cap. Thus, when it is desired to close the container, the cap may be applied in position with the finger piece of the locking lever outwardly extended with respect to the pivot pin of the cap. When the cap is in position the locking lever is moved eccentricity into contact with the exterior-of the near the pivot pin I in such manner that the cap tainer. As illustrated, the spout or neck is formed upon or with a base plate" for mounting upon the container and the base plate conveniently carries the associated parts of the mechanism. The brackets8 are perforated with bearing holes for the reception oi? the pivot pin 1 oi the cap, while the parts or the brackets that lie on opposite sides of the spout or. neck are formed in the lateral edges with slots 9, the outer or upper edges of which extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the plane of the mouth of the spout or neck.

. The side plates of the cap are provided with elongated openings l0 disposed parallel with the exterior surface of the cap and in positions that come to lie in register with'the slots 9 in the brackets 8 when the cap is in the closed position. The said openings H! in the side plates of the cap serve for the reception of the spindle ll of the cam l2 which is provided as a cylinder set to engage the cam spindle ll laterally in the slots 9 of the bearing brackets 8. The locking lever is then rotated through 180 ;to lock the cap by bringing the part of the cam ll of greatest cap I or the pressure plate l3 thereon.

In order that the cap may be retained in the open position when it is desired to empty the container, the side plates 3 of the cap are formed may be rotated from the spout or neck of the container through and is then arrested by the contacting of the said parts of the side plates upon the surface of the baseplate of the mechanism applied to the container. In this position the locking lever may be rotated into the-locking position with reference to the cap and the.

finger piece thereof may then be engaged between the cap and an upstanding retaining plate l'l suitably mounted upon the surface .of the container, the finger piece being engaged therewith by a movement of the cam spindle I l in the direction parallel with the exterior surface of the cap.

When the cap is in the closed position and the arms I 5 of the locking lever lie between the side plates 3 of the cap, the said arms, the side plates of the cap and the bearing brackets 8 may be pierced for the threading through them of, a sealing wire.

The cap is lined or packed with a lining or, sheet of rubber or like resilient material l8 adapted to form a liquid-tight joint with. the mouth of the spout or neck. 1

The construction represented in Figures 4 to 6 is substantially similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and the like reference numerals represent. similar parts. The closurecap or stopper I has alining H! of petrol-resisting rubber provided as a rectangle -ofsheet material having short tongues 19 that extend through slots 20 formed in the opposite ends of the rim of the closure cap or stoppen The lower surface of the rim may have soldered or welded to it at the two ends strips 2| of sheet metal formed with inwardly directed tongues or lugs 22 disposed at each side of each slot 20 and other lugs 22 may be welded to the rim off the middle of the length of the longer sides, to clear thespout or neck 8, the lugs 22 serving to assist in the retention in position of the lining l8. At the outer end the strip 2| may be provided with a tongue or extension thatis rolled over the edges of thecorresponding tongue IQ of the lining l8. The strips 2| and lugs 22 may be formed integrally as an annulus of sheet metal welded to the lower surface of the rim of the closure plate or stopper.

The cam I2 is formed integrally with the lookinglever from a blank of sheet metal that is laterally flanged to form the arms I 5 of the locking lever and is rolled at the one end for the formation of the cam that is welded or otherwise disposed in fixed relation to the spindle H by which the slots 9 of the bearing bracket 8 inlet assist 'tion pf the air inletpip 30. The brackets 3 are 3 the construction illustrated in Figures 7' and 8. especially intended for use upon a canhavin'g the chargingand discharging orifice provided upon an inclined surface at the upper end of the can in alignment with the handle,'which is made up of sheet metal and is of considerable width. The spout or neck 6 is modified by the provision of a throat plate 3| formed'by that part of the metal of the neck 01- spout that is'pressed or stamped from the metal blank for the formation of the air the plate 3| serving as a seat to determining the inclination .or disposiformed riveted closure integrally with a pressure plate 32 that is or welded to the outer surface of the cap or stopper I. The arms I5 01" the 7 locking lever are reduced in width in the direcneck or spout 6. The brackets8 are formed integrally with the base plate and with the spout or neck and the air inlet..

The finger plate of the lockinglever may be pierced at 21 for the reception of a sealing wire. In the construction represented in Figures '7 and 8, the spout or neck 6 of the container is formed as an annulus of sheet metal set into the base plate with which the bearing brackets 8 are integrally formed and the closure cap or stopper I, the construction of which is substantially similar to that represented in Figures 1 and 2, is provided to embrace the pivot pin 1 within the bend of the material formed at the one end. The brackets 3 by which the cam spindle-ll is supported 'upon the closure cap or stopper are formed integrally with the latter, while the openings l0 through which the cam spindle Ii passes are advantageously provided with the upper edges inclined to the closure cap or stopperin such manner that on the lateral movement of the cam spindle for disengagement of the cam spindle from the abutments, the 010- sure cap or stopper is pressed ina direction away from the spout or neck of the container. The locking lever and the cam follow closely in construction those of the closure cap or stopper represented in Figures 4 to 6. The locking lever,-is however, provided at the ends of the arms IS with lugs or ears 28 that are received between thebearing brackets 8 in the closed position of the closure cap or stopper and that are perforated at 29 for the reception of a securing wire that passes through the bearing brackets 8.

In the construction of closure cap or stopper illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, there is also illustrated an air-inlet pipe 38 of rectangular crosssection that is made from a single blank of sheet metal that is pressed and formed into a tube of rectangular cross-section and is then suitably cut to permit of the formation of the angle or bend.

Figures 9 and 10 represent a modification of the it may be retained in such position by engagement of. the lugs or carstion' of the outer end of the lever to permit the latter in the closed position to'pass into close proximity to the closure cap or stopper l and the lever is itelf bent adjacent the ends of the arms l5 so that the lugs-or ears 28 which are spaced slightly from the ends of the arms ii are disposed so that they lie parallel with the lateral edge of the bearing brackets outer ends may be inclined slightly towards one another for. the purpose of providing africtional grip upon the lugs 28. The slots 9 in the bearing brackets 8 areadvantageously formed at the outer ends of slightly less width than at the inner endwhere the cam spindle comes to rest in the closed position of the locking lever. For this purpose each bearing bracket 8 at the upper edge of the slot 9 is recessed to a circular curvature of a radius slightly greater spindle. Thus, in the closed position the cam spindle is effectively located in the slots against accidental movement. .The bearing bracketsare perforated at 33 for the reception of a retaining wire or rod that passes over the outer surface of the locking lever in the closed position.

When the closure cap or stopperjs moved into open position for the discharge of the can 28 frictionally with the two sides of the handle of the can. I It is advantageous in the construction of the cam l2 in the manner represented in Figures '7 to 10 that the-end of the strip 01' metal forming the cam should only approach the under-surface of the locking lever with a clearance of; for example, one-sixteenth of an inch and should not contact with the said surface. Such a construc tion affords a degree of flexibility or resilience'in the cam that is desirable.

The construction of c1o'sure cap or stopper illustrated in Figures 11- and 12 is applied to a drum container that is provided at the upper end with a pressed closure plate shaped at 34 to a shallow truncated conical form and having a central depression at 35 in which to one side there is formed a further depression 36, the surface of which merges into the surface of the depression of 35 and is formed with the charging and discharging orifice. The construction of the closure cap or stopper is such that when in the closed position there is no protrusion of any part thereof to the exterior of the coned wall bearing brackets base plate as in 8 are formed integrally with the Figures 7 and 8, the base plate being applied upon the drum top around the spout or neck 6 that may be a separate stamping similar to that of the-construction of Figures 9 and 10 and that is welded in position to an intumed flange formed at 8 which at the upper .or

than that of the cam 34 of the drum. They the construction represented in It] for the cam spindlepivot pins I that are mounted in.

of movement in manner illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The closure cap or stopper is provided with integrally formed side plates 3 that are provided with slots l I and with slots 5 for the reception of the the bearing brackets 8. The slots 9 in the said brackets are advantageously formed in the man- 'ner described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

The locking lever is provided with the arms 15 and the, lugs or ears 28 in the manner represented in Figures 9 and 10, but the lugs cream 28 are bent outwardly and with a slight divergence in order that they may advantageously engage frictionally with the inner extremities of the pivot pins I in the closed position of the locking lever. The bearing brackets 8 are perforated at 33 for the reception of a retaining wire or rod in the manner hereinbefore described.

Theclosure cap or stopper I is provided with a pressure plate l3 welded or otherwise secured thereto in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The closure cap or stopper in the open position lies upon the inclined surface in the depression 35 in the top of the drum within the pivoting handle 31.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the form of the closure cap or stopper and of the severalparts of the mechanism may be modified according to the particular applications of the invention.

I claim: 1

l. A closure cap mechanism for mounting upon containers more particularly adapted to hold liquids and provided with a charging and discharging orifice, comprising a closure cap adapted to be removably associated with the orifice, bearing bracket members disposed on opposite sides of said closure cap and in fixed relation-to each other, a pivot pin for the closure cap having bearings in the bracket members, a rotatable spindle transversely disposed upon the closure cap, abutments for engaging said spindle at opposite ends thereof, spaced bearingplates upon the closure cap, said plates having elongated openings substantially paralleling the top of said cap in which the said' spindle is mounted with limited freedom the closed position of said cap in directions parallel to and normal to the plane of the closure cap so as to be disengageable from said abutments in the closed position of said cap, an eccentric cam part provided upon the said spindle between said bearing plates, and a locking lever fixedly mounted in relation to the spindle, whereby angular movement of the locking lever, when the 'closure cap is upon the orifice, imposes pressure upon the cap through the cam.

2. A closure cap mechanism for mounting upon containers more particularly adapted to hold liquids and provided with a charging and discharging orifice, comprising a base member having an aperture for registry with the container orifice; a closure member hingedly mounted. for move ment into and out of a closedposition over said aperture, said closure member comprising a substantially rectangular sheet metalplate having apertured side flanges along one pair of its edges, said flanges providin opposed elongated aligned openings above said plate; slotted bearing, plates carried by said base member at opposite sides of said closure member and substantially paralleling said flanges; means hingedly connecting said closure member and said bearing plates; a cam member between said side flanges having a cam surface of cylindrical contour for exerting pressure on said plate between said side flanges; and, a spindle .extending from opposite ends of said cammember and passing through the openings in said side flanges for movement into and out of the slots in said bearing plates in the closed position of said closure member, said spindle having its axis within the confines of said cam member and eccentric to the cylinder axis.

3. A closure cap adapted for use upon the spout or neck of a petrol container comprising a sheet metal cap plate of substantially rectangular form having bends at the opposite ends;- transverse strengthening pins disposed at said ends and fitted within said bends, said pins extending beyond the lateral edges of said cap plate; spaced side plates projecting upwardly; along the lateral edges of said cap plate, said side plates being secured to said cap plate by said pins, having elongated openings disposed parallel with said cap plate and extending laterally at the one end of .said cap plate to form spaced pivot lugs, said lugs and extending laterally of said cap-plate, said brackets having bearing holes at the one end thereof and spindle slots at the other end, said spindle slots having upper edges which extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with said cap plate in its closed position and being disposed in positions that lie in register with said elongated openings in said side plates when said cap plate is in its closed position; a pivot pin extending through the pivot pin openings in said spaced pivot lugs into. said bearing holes for pivotally carrying said cap plate; a rotatable spindle transversely disposed upon said cap plate, said spindle having its ends projecting through the openings in said side plates and having limited freedom of movement in said openings in directions normal to and parallel to the plane of said cap plate whereby said spindle ends may be-moved into and out of said spindle slots in the closed position of said cap plate; a cylinder set eccentrically upon said spindle between said side plates free ends, said arms and spacing member forming a locking lever for said cap.

.. ARTHUR CECIL 

